AFL's long-time No.2 gets his chance in the hot seat

Roger Vaughan, David Sygall

Comedians will have a field day with Gillon McLachlan's CV, but South Australian farming old money, a St Peter's College education and all the best polo connections will only take you so far.

The AFL's explosion of growth, influence and money over the last two decades has seen to that, with the chief executive position surely the most powerful single role in Australian sport.

McLachlan is now confirmed in the job that effectively became his when he knocked back the NRL two years ago.

The question is not whether he's capable. As Eddie McGuire says, McLachlan hits the ground running.

McLachlan has been at the AFL since 2000.

He was a key figure in the AFL's extraordinarily lucrative broadcast rights deal.

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Whatever the verdict on his performance, he was at the coalface of the league's investigations into Melbourne and Essendon.

To use his own words, McLachlan said on Wednesday that he had lost skin over the Essendon crisis.

Andrew Demetriou doesn't have to walk him through all the pitfalls of the head office.

No, the question is whether McLachlan is too big to fail.

It's a bit like becoming a senior AFL coach - no one knows for sure about his capabilities until he's in the main chair, running the show.

McLachlan and AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick have promised that the league will listen to fans over growing anger about the cost of going to the footy.

McLachlan has pledged to put women in key AFL positions.

But as he drew a line between himself and Demetriou, the son of a fish-and-chip owner from Cyprus, McLachlan also said it will be a process of evolution, not revolution.

We do know McLachlan will be more consultative than Demetriou and does not have such a temper. But we are also advised not to mistake the quieter demeanour for a lack of strength.

Now we find out exactly what he brings to the job.

McLachlan's appointment and the almost certain contract extension at Greater Western Sydney for club boss David Matthews is a dream come true for the competition's youngest entity as it ensures, for the foreseeable future, a high-powered and deeply rooted partnership.

McLachlan and Matthews are close personal friends and professional associates after having worked together on the AFL executive for 11 years.

"Personally I've become very good friends with him over a long period of time," Matthews said on Wednesday. "A lot of the people on the executive have had young families together and, in many ways, grown up together.

"Professionally, he's had such a big hand in expansion and improved broadcast coverage in places like NSW. He's attuned to what's required up here, as was Andrew.

"He gets things done, he supports what we're trying to achieve, so it's a great appointment for the Giants."

Matthews was an early contender to take over from Demetriou, but he decided not to apply. The former game development leader is contracted to the Giants until late 2015 and is expected to be given an extension.